Device for mounting recessed fixtures



R. D. RENNIE I DEVICE FOR MOUNTING RECESSED FIXTURES June 27, 1967 FiledMay 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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R. D. RENNIE DEVICE FOR- MOUNTING RECESSED FIXTURES June 27, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet Filed May 26, 1965 uunur= INVENTOR. 0. P'A/N/E BY ran 15?,AVA/0655 ATTOFA/F/S.

United States Patent 3,327,984 DEVICE FOR MOUNTING RECESSED FIXTURESRobert D. Rennie, 155i) Sheffield Drive,

La Habra, Calif. 90631 Filed May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 458,886 7 Claims.(Cl. 248343) This invention relates to a device for framing an openingthrough a wall or ceiling to mount a recessed fixture, and moreparticularly to such a device which is adaptable for use with electriclight fixtures requiring openings of different shapes.

Electric light fixtures are now quite often recessed into the ceiling.Generally, such recessed fixtures have a housing portion including areflect-or and one or more bulb sockets mounted above the ceiling. Lightfrom the bulb passes through an opening in the ceiling into the roombelow. A decorative face or trim plate is mounted below the ceilingaround the opening to provide a finished appearance. Often a glass orplastic cover for the opening is supported by the trim plate.

The opening in the ceiling is generally framed by a strip of metal,plastic, wood or other suitable material. The strip serves to protectthe edge of the opening, and sometimes also acts as a support for thelight fixture. In plaster ceilings, the strip further serves as aplaster ground or guide in placing the plaster adjacent the opening. Theframing strip is commonly attached to a mounting device which includes aplate supported in position at the upper surface of the ceiling. Theframe extends downward from the plate through the opening.

Since the trim plate and the glass cover are visible from the room whichthe fixture is lighting, they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizesto add to the decor of the room. The opening in the ceiling ispreferably substantially the same shape as the trim plate.

Fixture suppliers must maintain a large inventory of various shapes offrames in order to accommodate the various shapes of openings required.This results in a considerable expense for the supplier. In addition,inconvenience results when the supplier or the contractor on thejob-site is without the particular size or shape of .frame required atthe time.

Therefore, it is desirable that a framing device be made which isadaptable to more than one size or shape of opening. This inventionprovides such a device, which includes a pair of flanges depending fromopposite sides of a plate to form a pair of frames for ceiling openings.The flanges each define a frame of a different shape, one circular andthe other rectangular. The plate may be installed alternatively with oneor the other of the flanges extending down to provide the frame shapedesired.

In one specific embodiment the flanges are integral with the plate. Oneflange depends perpendicularly at the periphery of the plate, and theother depends from the other side of the plate at the periphery of theopening through the plate. The housing portion of the fixture issupported in position above the ceiling from the latter of thetwoflanges, in each of the alternative installed positions. The plate issupported from the ceiling joists by a pair of horizontal bar hangerswhich extend between adjacent joists and through ears on the plate.

Other types of fixtures such as fans and heat lamps are also commonlyrecessed, and the device'of this in- .vention is also useful in mountingthem;

The advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment. Throughout thedescription reference will be made to the accompanying drawings inwhich: l i I FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the framing device of apreferred embodiment of this invention in one position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the framing device in areversed position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical elevation partly in section showing the deviceframing and opening in a ceiling and supporting an electric lightfixture;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 with the framing device in areversed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the framing device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the framing device; and,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the framing device supporting a fan.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the framing device, designated generally as10, is shown in place between two adjacent ceiling joists 8. The framingdevice 10 is supported from the joists by a pair of strap or bar hangers13 in a manner to be described below. The bar hangers are attached tothe joists in any suitable manner, as by screws 15. In new construction,the framing device may be placed as shown before installing the ceiling.

The framing device includes a square flat plate 20 which is installed ina generally horizontal position. A circular flange 21 dependsperpendicularly from one side of the plate 20 and is integral with theplate. The entire area of the plate within the boundary of the flange 21is removed to form a fixture communicating opening 22. A second flange24 depends perpendicularly from the other side of the plate 20 at theperiphery of the plate. The second flange 24 is square and is integralwith the plate.

When the framing device is installed in the position shown in FIG. 1,the circular flange 21 serves to frame a corresponding circular openingin the ceiling. As shown in FIG. 2, the framing device 10 may bereversed and installed with the circular flange 21 extending upward andthe square flange 24 extending downward to frame a square ceilingopening.

In FIG. 3, an electric light fixture is shown mounted on the framingdevice 10. The fixture includes a semispherical housing 30, the innersurface of which is polished to serve as a reflector. A lip 31 extendsradically outward from the lower edge of the housing 30 and a circularwall 32 extends downward from the lip 31. The framing device is placedin the position of FIG. 1, with its circular flange 21 down to frame acircular opening in the ceiling 35. The circular flange 21 is of a sizeappropriate to receive the wall 32 of the housing in telescopingrelationship. The housing is supported on the circular flange 21 by aplurality of screws 36 extending through threaded openings in the flange21 and the wall 32 at spaced points on their circumference.

A circular decorative trim plate 40 has an upwardly and outwardlyextending decorative shield portion 42 below the ceiling. A verticalcircular flange 41 extends upwardly from the shield portion into theopening in the ceiling. The trim plate 40 is supported from the housing30 by a pair of coil springs 43 connected between inwardly extendinghooks 44 on the housing and outwardly extending hooks 45 on the circularflange 41 of the trim plate. The springs 43 pull the shield 42 intotight engagement with the underside of the ceiling 35.

A bulb socket (not shown) is located in the upper portion of the housing30 to receive the bulb 48. A power cord 49 is connected to the bulbsocket in a junction box 50 at the top of the housing. A plug 51 at theend of the cord 49 is removably connected to a source of electric powersupply 52 through an outlet box 55.

Referring to FIG. 6 as well as FIG. 3, the outlet box 55 includes aplurality of knockouts 56 for receiving the power supply conduit 52 anda socket (not shown) for receiving the plug 51. The outlet box ismounted from the square flange 24 of the framing device by a bracketdesignated generally as 60.

The bracket is formed of a single flat plate which is bent to form ahorizontal support 61, an arm portion 62 extending down and in from thesupport 61 and a downturned vertical flange 63. The flange 63 includes aplurality of slots 64 for receiving screws 65 which are connected inthreaded holes in the square flange 24 to support the bracket 60. Theslots are elongated to permit the position of the bracket and outlet boxto be adjusted relative to the flange 24 to avoid any obstructions abovethe ceiling. The outlet box 55 is attached to the support 61 by screws66. Thus, the outlet box is conveniently located above the ceiling in aposition near the housing 30, but not over the housing where it wouldinterfere with installation and be subjected to excess heat.

In FIG. 4 the framing device 10 is shown installed in a ceiling 35 withthe square flange 24 extending down to frame a square opening throughthe ceiling. The housing 30 is supported from the upwardly extendingcircular flange 21 by screws 36. An annular square trim plate 70 has ahorizontal decorative shield 72 covering the edges of the ceilingopening. A vertical wall 73 extends from the upper side of the squareshield 72 into the framed ceiling opening. The trim plate 70 issupported from the framing device 10 by a pair of conventional wiresprings 78 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 4) each having twoopposed arms 79 which are received in slots 80 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) inthe plate 20 on opposite sides of the circular flange 21. The coiledportion of each spring 78 is connected around a pin 84 extendinginwardly from the wall 73. The arms 79 are urged apart by the action ofthe spring and cooperate with the ends of slots 80 to urge the trimplate 70 flush against the ceiling.

A square translucent cover 85 of a suitable material such as glass orplastic rests on lips 71 formed around the inner periphery of the squareshield 72 of the trim plate 70. The trim plate may be lowered by pullingit down against the action of the springs 78 until ofi'iset portions 86of the arms 79 engage the ends of the slots 80. The trim plate is thuslocked in a lowered position in which the supper surface of the cover 85may be cleaned or the bulb 48 replaced. The trim plate and cover may becompletely removed if desired by manually disengaging the offsetportions 86 of the arms from the slots 80.

A translucent cover plate may also be used with the circular trim plateof FIG. 3 if desired.

The bracket 60 is connected to the square flange 24 in FIG. 4 inend-to-end reverse position from that of FIG. 6, so that it extendsupward and outward therefrom even though the framing device 10 is placedwith the square flange down. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the slots 64 arearranged to permit this flexibility.

The connection between the bar hangers 13 and the framing device 10 ismost clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The plate 20 has four dependingears 90, one near each of its corners. Each ear 90 forms a loop forreceiving a bar hanger 13 in sliding relationship. Pairs of the ears arealigned so that one bar hanger passes through each pair. The cars '90depend from the same side of the plate 20 as does the circular flange21, so that the bar hangers extend across the plate on opposite sides ofthe flange 21 Without passing through either the circular flange 21 orthe square flange 24. As the plate is slidable relative to the barhangers, the location of the frame between the joists may be adjusted asdesired.

The upper surface of each bar hanger and the upper surface of theceilingare both flush against the bottom of the joists 8, the lath beingconsidered part of a plaster ceiling. In order that the lower edge ofthe flange framing the ceiling opening will extend to a position flushwith t the bottom surface of the ceiling, the distance from the top ofthe bar hanger to the lower edge of the downward extending flange of theframing device 10 is equal to the ceiling thickness. When the squareflange is down, this dimension is that designated as A in FIG. 5, andwhen the circular flange 21 is down the dimension is that designated asB. A of course is equal to B, and the circular flange 21 extends awayfrom the plate 20 farther than does the square flange 24 by an amountequal to the thickness of the hanger 13.

FIG. 7 illustrates the framing device 10 of FIGS. 1-6, with a recessedelectric ventilating fan mounted on it. The fan includes a blowerhousing 95 which is mounted on the circular flange 21 and a motor 96.The fan pulls air in the direction of arrows 94 through the opening 22in the plate 20 and out an outlet 97.

The'mounting device is preferably stamped from thin sheet metal. A thinsquare plate is bent along its edges to form the square flange 24. Acircular opening is punched out of the center of the plate and theportion of the plate near the periphery of the opening is drawn to formthe circular flange 21. The ears 90 are formed by standard punchingprocedures as are the slots and the screw holes. The screw holes arethen threaded by selfthreading screws. The bracket 80 is similarlypunched and stamped from a sheet metal plate.

Thus, the invention provides a recessed fixture mounting device andframe for a ceiling opening which is usable with either of two differentshaped openings. Since circular and square, or other rectangular shapesare the most common, a supplier can substantially reduce his inventoryrequirements by keeping a supply of the combination frames of thisinvention incorporating frames of those shapes in the most commonly usedsizes. Other shapes may also be used, including two sizes of the samegeometric configuration.

The framing and mounting device has been described above with particularreference to installation in a ceiling. It is also useful for recessedinstallation in other room panels, such as walls, room dividers orfloors. The room panel may be of conventional plaster construction or ofwood, acoustical tile, gysum, masonry, ceramic tile, or other suitableconstruction material.

I claim:

1. A reversible framing device for use in mounting recessed fixtures ina room panel so that a housing portion of the fixture is disposed behindthe panel and a trim portion of selected circular or rectangular shapeis disposed in front of the panel, comprising,

(a) a fiat plate having a fixture communicating opening therein;

(b) a first room panel framing flange depending perpendicularly from oneside of said plate and defining a closed circular boundary around afirst area of said plate which includes said opening;

(c) a second room panel framing flange depending perpendicularly fromthe other side of said plate and defining a closed rectangular boundaryaround a second area of said plate which includes said opening;

(d) and, means for mounting said plate adjacent and parallel to a roompanel alternatively with said first flange or said second flangeextending forward for framing an opening through the room panel.

2. A reversible framing device for use in mounting recessed electricfixtures in a ceiling panel so that a housing portion of the fixture isdisposed above the panel and a trim plate of selected circular orrectangular shape is disposed below the panel, comprising (a) a flatplate having a fixture communicating opening therein;

(b) first and second flanges depending from opposite sides of said plateand defining closed boundaries around rectangular and circular areasrespectively of said plate, said circular area being entirely withinsaid rectangular area;

(c) said fixture communicating opening being substantially coincidentwith said circular area;

(d) means for mounting said plate adjacent and parallel to a ceilingpanel alternatively with said first or said second flange extendingforward for framing an opening through the panel;

(e) means for selectively supporting fixture housing and trim portionson either side of the plate.

3. A framing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means forselectively supporting fixture housing portions on either side of theplate comprises a plurality of removable fasteners associated with saidsecond flange.

4. A framing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means formounting said plate comprises a plurality of bar hangers connected toand extending across said plate, said flanges and bar hangers beingdimensioned so that the forward extremity of each flange terminatessubstantially the same distance from the hangers.

5. For use in mounting a recessed electric light fixture in a ceilingpanel with a reflector housing portion behind the panel and a face trimportion in front of the panel, a reversible framing device comprising, athin plate having a fixture communicating opening therethrough, a firstflange integral with said plate and depending perpendicularly from afirst side of said plate at the periphery thereof, a second flangeintegral with said plate and depending perpendicularly from the secondside of said plate at the periphery of the opening, said flanges bothdefining closed boundaries, one circular and the other rectangular, andmeans for mounting the plate adjacent the ceiling panel alternativelywith said first or said secnd flange extending downward for framing anopening through the panel.

6. A framing device as defined above in claim 5 and further comprisingmeans on said framing device for supporting a fixture housing portionselectively on either side of said plate.

7. For use in mounting a recessed electric light fixture in a ceilingpanel supported by ceiling joists so that a reflector housing portion isdisposed above the ceiling panel and a face trim portion of selectedcircular or square shape is disposed below the ceiling panel, areversible framing device comprising,

(a) a thin rectangular plate having a circular opening therethrough;

(b) a first flange depending perpendicularly from one side of said plateat the periphery thereof to form a square frame;

(0) a second flange depending perpendicularly from the other side ofsaid plate at the periphery of the circular opening to form a circularframe;

(d) a plurality of ears depending from said other side of said plate andtwo bar hangers slideably received in said ears and extending acrosssaid plate on opposite sides of said circular frame for supporting saidplate between adjacent ceiling joists, the distance from the upper sideof each bar hanger to the outer edge of each flange being substantiallyequal;

(e) a plurality of fasteners associated with said second flange forsupporting a fixture housing portion selectively on either side of theplate;

(f) means including a pair of parallel elongated slots in the plate ondiametrically opposed sides of said circular frame for selectivelymounting fixture face trim portions on either side of said plate;

(g) a bracket including a vertical flange and an arm extending therefromfor supporting an electrical outlet box above the ceiling panel;

(h) and means for connecting said vertical flange remov-ably to saidfirst flange alternatively in end-forend reversed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,933 8/1957 Broadwin 248343X 2,898,076 8/1959 Versen 248- 343 2,998,511 8/1961 Chan 248343 X3,130,949 4/1964 Erhardt et al. 248-343 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,861 9/ 1964Canada.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A REVERSIBLE FRAMING DEVICE FOR USE IN MOUNTING RECESSED FIXTURES INA ROOM PANEL SO THAT A HOUSING PORTION OF THE FIXTURE IS DISPOSED BEHINDTHE PANEL AND A TRIM PORTION OF SELECTED CIRCULAR OR RECTANGULAR SHAPEIS DISPOSED IN FRONT OF THE PANEL, COMPRISING, (A) A FLAT PLATE HAVING AFIXTURE COMMUNICATING OPENING THEREIN; (B) A FIRST ROOM PANEL FRAMINGFLANGE DEPENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID PLATE ANDDEFINING A CLOSED CIRCULAR BOUNDARY AROUND A FIRST AREA OF SAID PLATEWHICH INCLUDES SAID OPENING; (C) A SECOND ROOM PANEL FRAMING FLANGEDEPENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PLATE AND DEFININGA CLOSED RECTANGULAR BOUNDARY AROUND A SECOND AREA OF SAID PLATE WHICHINCLUDES SAID OPENING; (D) AND, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID PLATE ADJACENTAND PARALLEL TO A ROOM PANEL ALTERNATIVELY WITH SAID FIRST FLANGE ORSAID SECOND FLANGE EXTENDING FORWARD FOR FRAMING AN OPENING THROUGH THEROOM PANEL.